Spaans voorzitterschap redelijk tevreden over behaalde resultaten op terreinen justitie en veiligheid (en)
The President of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, (left), and the Spanish Minister for Home Affairs, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba (right). EFE
Spain's Minister of Home Affairs, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, giving the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs an overview of the Spanish Presidency's 50 actions on Thursday, said he was “reasonably satisfied” with the objectives achieved, given the complexity of the issues broached.
Rubalcaba said the objective of the 50 actions promoted by his department over the past six months had been to help to make Europe safer, guaranteeing people's rights and freedoms.
He broke down the work carried out into two large blocks, with strategic issues on one side, involving the development of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, while the other side covered more specific operational issues, above all facilitating practical co-operation.
STRATEGIC ISSUES
One of the priorities of the Spanish Presidency has been the immediate implementation of the Stockholm Programme Action Plan, which will define policies in the areas of freedom, security and justice over the next five years.
The EU Home Affairs Security Strategy defines the European security model in a simple and methodical way and is based on two fundamental premises: That member states suffer from common risks and threats; and that they share unquestionable principles and values upon which the European security model can be based. It also identifies 10 priority lines of action.
The Committee on Internal Security (COSI), set up during the Spanish Presidency, with the aim of enhancing operational co-operation. This Committee will be largely responsible for ensuring enforcement and monitoring of the Home Affairs Security Strategy in the operational field.
Another of the major strategic objectives is the strengthening of transatlantic relations. To work towards this, the Spanish Presidency has maintained intense EU-US dialogue on building a transatlantic area of freedom, security and justice. This objective has led to joint commitments being developed, such as the Toledo Declaration on Aviation Security, the Joint Declaration on Counterterrorism Co-operation, and the negotiation of the EU-US Agreement on the transference of financial messaging data (TFTP-SWIFT)
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-Immigration and Asylum
On immigration, the Spanish Presidency has focused on developing a true European policy, consolidated by the Treaty of Lisbon. The Council carried out its first examination of the progress made in application of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, adopted in 2008 and due for its first assessment in June 2010.
Development of the Common European Asylum System, which has required legislative proceedings under negotiation to be pushed forward, completing the development of regulations to enable the European Asylum Support Office, based in Malta, to come into operation shortly. Progress has also been made on developing European information exchange systems, such as the second-generation Schengen Information System (SIS II).
OPERATIONAL ISSUES
One of the most important issues in police co-operation was the creation of an Erasmus scheme for police officers. This initiative will enable the European Police College (CEPOL) to draw up an exchange programme for police staff, making it possible to carry out training exchanges between the police services of the EU Member States.
Promotion of joint co-operation teams. The development of these teams will make it possible to deploy police staff in joint police stations, carry out cross-border patrols or use joint forces to cover major events.
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-The battle against terrorism
Work to set up and promote co-operation between counterterrorism co-ordination centres in the different member states. The aim is to improve collaboration between these services.
Improving security and monitoring in relation to explosives, developing early warning and traceability mechanisms in case of thefts of explosives.
Development of multinational investigation teams with third countries, and mechanisms to prevent terrorist radicalisation and recruitment.
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-The battle against crime and organised crime
On the battle against cyber crime, the Council has drawn up and adopted a range of short and medium-term measures to prevent and prosecute cyber crime in all its forms.
The European Pact against international drug trafficking, which includes commitments on tackling the entry routes for cocaine and heroin into Europe. Strengthening of offices to locate and administer assets arising from criminal sources and to facilitate the identification and exchange of information and intelligence on criminal activities involving speedboats and their engines.
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-The battle against illegal immigration and border control
The Spanish Presidency has made progress on developing the framework for dialogue and fluid co-operation with immigration source and transit countries, and also on strengthening the role of the FRONTEX Agency, the new regulation for which was produced during the Spanish Presidency.
ABC System: Launch of two automated border crossing pilot projects at the airports of Madrid and Barcelona, using the European biometric passport and new technologies.
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